Mayon Volcano now under Alert Level 3 —PHIVOLCS

The alert level in Mayon Volcano was raised from 2 to 3 on Thursday noon, signifying "increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption," according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

In a bulletin, PHIVOLCS said the repeated collapse of the volcano's growing summit dome has generated an increasing number and volume of rockfall events since the alert level was raised from 1 to 2 on Monday.

"A total of 267 rockfall events and 2 volcanic earthquakes were recorded from 05 to 08 June, compared to 54 rockfall events from 01 to 04 June 2023," PHIVOLCS said.

According to the agency, Alert Level 3 means that Mayon "is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous PDCs (pyroclastic density currents) affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days."

Evacuation recommended

Due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards, PHIVOLCS has recommended evacuation from the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised, PHIVOLCS added.

Ash fall events may occur most likely on the south side of Mayon considering the current prevailing wind pattern.

Pilots, meanwhile, are prohibited from flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

PDC events

PHIVOLCS raised the alert level after three PDC events on the Bonga (southeast) and Basud (east) Gullies were observed at 6:18 a.m., 9:53 a.m. and 11:00 a.m..

The PDCs lasted four to five minutes based on the seismic record and emplaced within a kilometer of the summit crater, according to the agency.

There is persistent inflation of the southeastern middle and upper slopes since February, PHIVOLCS said.

“The overall monitoring parameters indicate that very slow extrusion of shallow degassed magma is ongoing and is incrementally increasing in rate; i.e., effusive magmatic eruption is taking place,” it said.

Meanwhile, in contrast, PHIVOLCS said the sulfur dioxide emission from the volcano remains at baseline or background levels. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News